Jesus the Perfectionist

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There are some things in life that need to be perfect in order to be effective. Things like balance sheets in the financial world (although my Accounting teacher jokingly said that, if your balance sheet in an Accounting exam balances out perfectly on your first go, you probably made a mistake somewhere...), rocket science (a microscopic error in calculation may mean astronauts missing their destination by miles), and grammar/punctuation (example: "Let's eat, grandma!" vs. "Let's eat grandma!" Punctuation saves lives...).

Jesus also expects perfection from His family of followers. Read Matthew 5:48.

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (NIVUK)

Does this mean the pressure is on to get everything right every time? Does this mean we'll be in trouble if we make mistakes? Not quite.

Jesus is talking to His followers about loving their enemies. He says that everyone and anyone can love those who love them back. That's almost easy. But being a Christian, being a child of God, means to love perfectly as our heavenly Father loves. God loves all people perfectly. He doesn't discriminate between His followers, believers, those who do good or evil. He doesn't love Christians more than non-Christians. He makes his sun rise over the good and the bad people, and makes it rain on all, regardless of their deservingness. And He expects the same from those who call themselves Christians.

Now, to be clear, this doesn't mean that God condones evil. He is still righteous, just, anti-evil. What it does mean is that, in God's view, no amount of evil should exclude us from being perfectly loved. And if God is perfect in doing this, Jesus tells us to also be perfect in doing this; not excluding anyone from being loved because of their past or present wickedness. We are loved perfectly. So we should love all people perfectly. That is perfect love.

So what does that look like for you and I? Let's extrapolate 1 Corinthians 13 onto our behaviour: being patient when others are impatient; being kind when others are unkind; being generous and humble rather than envious and proud; being honourable towards others when it's easier to dishonour opponents; being truthful when it's more convenient to lie; staying calm when others may get angry, forgiving instead of holding on to wrongs done to us; protecting, trusting, hoping and persevering when it's easier to give up and turn a blind eye.

Wow. Christ's expectation of perfection is indeed a tall order. He showed us this perfection on the cross. It's something we can only accomplish if we know that perfect love for ourselves.

Yes, there are some things in life that need perfection to be effective, but life itself needs perfect love to be lived to the full. Love needs to be perfect to be love. To the glory of God.

Selah.

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